Area Admin Officer

Job summary

Forest Services are part of the Forestry Commission and are recognised as the Government's forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England's valuable woodland assets, ensuring they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.We are seeking an experienced, highly organised and proactive individual to provide administrative and operational support to the Yorkshire and North East Area Team.The Area Team consists of over 50 staff working across Yorkshire and the North East. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the team through effective administrative, financial, operational, health and safety, learning and development and local infrastructure support.This is a highly collaborative role requiring an individual who enjoys working closely with people, building relationships and supporting others to succeed.

Job description

Key ResponsibilitiesAdministration Support

• Monitor incoming communications including email, telephone and post.
• Support the administration and effective use of Forestry Commission business systems, including CRM systems.
• Organise, coordinate and minute meetings.
• Act as Secretary to Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee (FWAC) meetings.
• Arrange venues, distribute papers, coordinate attendance and maintain records.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities and events.
• Coordinate face-to-face and virtual meetings and events.
• Manage attendee lists and online event booking systems.
• Maintain paper and electronic records in accordance with Forestry Commission policies and procedures.
• Undertake office management activities across Area Team locations.
• Liaise with facilities management providers and building management teams as required.

Finance

• Ensure Forestry Commission financial policies and procedures are followed.
• Raise purchase orders and process invoices.
• Support procurement activities and ensure compliance with corporate contracts.
• Maintain the local asset register.
• Audit financial records and transactions.
• Maintain electronic financial filing systems.
• Liaise with central finance teams as required.

Local Infrastructure Manager (LIM)

• Promote and support the effective use of Microsoft 365 products.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues on digital tools and systems.
• Liaise with national project teams regarding local IT initiatives.
• Support local infrastructure and associated equipment.
• Work with IT support teams to resolve issues affecting colleagues.

Health and Safety

• Act as Health and Safety representative for the Area Team.
• Promote a positive health and safety culture.
• Support implementation of local Health, Safety and Welfare arrangements.
• Manage local H&S action trackers and associated records.
• Act as administrator for incident reporting systems and lone-working systems.
• Liaise with specialist H&S colleagues to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Learning and Development

• Coordinate training activities across the Area Team.
• Maintain training records.
• Arrange local and national training events.
• Liaise with Learning and Development, Human Resources and Health and Safety colleagues.
• Train and act as local Manual Handling Trainer where required.

Travel RequirementsThe Yorkshire and North East Area covers a large geographical area and regular travel forms an essential part of this role.The successful candidate will be required to travel regularly to:

• Foss House, York.
• Forestry and Woodland Advisory Committee (FWAC) meetings.
• Educational events and engagement activities.
• Learning and Development events.
• Area Team meetings.
• Health and Safety activities.
• Stakeholder events.
• Forestry Commission sites and partner organisations.

Candidates must be comfortable travelling independently, driving regularly and working across multiple locations.Travel undertaken as part of official business will be reimbursed in line with Forestry Commission travel and expenses policies.Candidates should note that travel between home and the permanent duty station at Tyneside House, Newcastle is considered normal commuting and is not reimbursed.Blended WorkingDue to the nature of this role, regular office attendance is an essential requirement.The successful candidate will normally be required to attend the Newcastle office for a minimum of three days per week (60% attendance), with additional attendance required where necessary to meet operational business needs.This role has been designed to provide visible, responsive and accessible support to colleagues, visitors and stakeholders. The postholder will be expected to maintain a regular presence within the office environment to support the delivery of business activities.This role is not intended to be a predominantly home-based position.Additional InformationSuccess in this role depends upon developing strong working relationships across the Yorkshire and North East Area Team.The postholder will be expected to be a visible, approachable and trusted source of support for colleagues across Newcastle, York and the wider Area. A commitment to collaborative working and providing excellent support to others is essential.Before applying, candidates should carefully consider the requirements of this role, including:

• A permanent duty station of Tyneside House, Newcastle.
• Minimum office attendance of three days per week.
• Additional office attendance where required by business need.
• Regular travel to Foss House, York.
• Regular travel throughout Yorkshire and the North East.
• Driving as part of normal business activities.
• Attendance at meetings, events and training activities across the Area.
• Providing visible, practical and face-to-face support to colleagues and stakeholders.

These responsibilities form a significant and regular part of the role and are fundamental to the successful delivery of the post.Candidates seeking a role with minimal office attendance, limited travel requirements or predominantly remote working arrangements should carefully consider whether this position is suitable for their circumstances before applying.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Significant experience working within a busy administrative, office management or business support environment.
• Experience supporting a large team within a complex organisational environment.
• Experience organising meetings, events and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Experience producing accurate meeting notes and minutes.
• Experience maintaining records, filing systems and confidential information.
• Experience acting as a first point of contact for customers, visitors or stakeholders.
• Experience providing high-quality customer service to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working independently and using initiative to resolve problems.
• Experience providing proactive support to colleagues and wider team activities.
• Significant experience using Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint and OneDrive.
• Experience support